Senator Pia Cayetano (center) during the bicameral conference committee meeting on Reproductive Health bill held at the Century Seafood Restaurant in Manila on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012. Photo from the office of Sen. Pia Cayetano

MANILA, Philippines — The bicameral conference committee convened on Wednesday to iron out differences in the controversial Reproductive Health bill.

The bicameral meeting at the Century Seafood Restaurant in Manila was closed to the media.

Cayetano expressed hope that the bicam report on the bill would be ratified this Wednesday, the last day of session before Congress goes on a Christmas break.

“That would be ideal,” she told reporters before the meeting.

Cayetano identified at least three contentious issues of the bill: the role of the local and national governments, access of minors to Reproductive Health services, and the mandatory RH education in schools.

“Everything else is style,” she pointed out.

Once the bicameral committee agreed on the differences, both panels of the House and the Senate will return to their respective chambers to ratify the bill.

Once ratified, the bill will then be transmitted to President Benigno Aquino III for signature.

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brunogiordano

Cayetano expressed hope Tuesday that the bicam report on the bill would be ratified this Wednesday, the last day of session before Congress goes on a Christmas break.

Walang uuwi hanggang hindi na-naratified.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_M6UL2UG4OGTMCLSYGB5MVJ7USE InSearchOfTruth

kaso baka si tito escalera mag “may i go out” kasi recess na, hehehe…

ExpatAmVet

Congratulations to the Filipino lawmakers who voted for the RH bill and finally beginning the transition to the 21st Century in terms of human development. Next, I urge you to pass a comprehensive divorce bill and end The Philippines being the Only country in the world Without a divorce procedure. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

The effect of this bill might not be felt in your lifetime. It will take decades before the positive results will be seen. This bill is one of the long-term, not a short-term, approaches to mitigate poverty.

The committee shouldn’t have chosen a seafood restaurant as venue. For sure, the bishops’ hyperactive noses will start to smell something fishy. Notwithstanding the fact that “the fish” is one of the earliest of Christian symbols, and that they could actually be just smelling themselves.

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AYITA5V33GYZSLC3G37UCVNTKA Ben

Empowering people everywhere to create the change they want to see. Congratulations to all of us who wants to change for the future of all Filipinos…..

http://profile.yahoo.com/NWS5555HSDDFIVPBZEC2QPBOGM Nelson

Why spend taxpayers money and convene in a restaurant? Very unprofessional! Our lawmakers do not even know how to dignify their jobs!

http://pulse.yahoo.com/_PZR7JI7G2WD2CTVMZ7LM667FD4 Ugly Bunny

That’s why we need FOI. Tsk tsk.

Facilitator1

All I can say our lawmakers are NOT good steward of Juan dela Cruz’ meager, minuscule budget. PEACE

@Nerraw, malamang na tama ka rin pero it’s not the call/responsibility of the bishops or any religious order on WHO will get the contract and WHERE to buy the material/med support needed for RH issues. What the bishops, nuns, and priests et al can do is to closely monitor RH budget usage and report or publicly announce their findings if there are graft and corruption anomalies or even just perceptions of wrongdoing. Parang eleksyon…may bantay boto; but in this case, bantay budget ni Juan dela Cruz. PEACE

http://profile.yahoo.com/ME73SJ2KNVTMNU4JMRMRLRYPVQ zom

tanong natin kay ninong edcel lagman.. hahaha

virgoyap

There’s no need for a debate now. Whether they like it or not the bill has passed. The last things they could do is to iron it out and pass this to the palace for approval.

Bicam reconvenes to iron out ‘kinks’ in RH bill – yes, the RH bill has some kinkiness in it… thats how Pnoy likes it!

http://www.facebook.com/mae.heredia Mae Heredia-VandenDungen

It’s time we re-read as a nation The 1987
Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and realize that the RH
Bill is Unconstitutional. Read Article II, Section 12 specifically
that states: “It shall equally protect the life of the mother and the
life of the unborn from conception.” This constitution was promulgated
and uphold by Her Excellency President Corazon Aquino. Let us
remember….what are we doing now?